Woodworking Wisdom: Tips and Tricks for Flawless Spindle Turning

If you’re new to spindle turning, you might find the entire process overwhelming. Proper spindle turning isn’t something that you can learn overnight, but with time, you can master this skill and become skilled in a short period. Once you learn everything there is to know, you can create some of the most beautiful and creative projects possible. Whether you’re interested in creating beautiful table legs, intricately designed candlesticks, or a similar project, you can do so by becoming a spindle-turning master. Knowing as much as possible about the spindle turning process can make learning this skill easier, and here is a guide that provides useful tips and tricks to help you create flawlessly processed spindles.

Tip # 1 – Use a Center Steady

A center steady is a tool that is used on the lathe to provide support to the machine. By using a center steady, you can significantly decrease any damaging vibration from occurring. The use of a center steady is especially beneficial when turning longer wood spindles, as whipping is more likely to occur with spindles that are much longer than average. Whipping is a strong vibration, and heavy vibration can cause your work to contain visible imperfections.

Tip # 2 – Practice on Scraps if You’re a Beginner

If you’re turning spindles for the first time, it’s a good idea to practice on wood scraps in the beginning. While turning spindles isn’t a complicated process, it is a process that takes skill and practice. Therefore, instead of wasting money on perfectly good spindles, practicing on scraps can help you master the skill of spindle turning, and then you can start working on actual projects.

Tip # 3 – Don’t Forget the Sanding

Once you’ve finished turning a spindle and examined the piece to ensure it meets your standards, don’t forget to sand it. Tool marks will be visible on your piece, and sanding it with smooth-grit sandpaper will remove these marks, leaving you with a beautifully finished spindle.

Tip # 4 – Use the Proper Tool for Driving in Spurs

If you drive the spur center into a blank with a steel-faced hammer, you will cause damage to the Morse taper, preventing proper fit. By using a dead blow, soft-faced hammer, or wooden mallet, you can prevent this problem from occurring.

Tip # 5 – Properly Maintain Your Tool Rest

You must maintain your tool rest if you expect it to last. Regardless of the turning tools, they are constructed of steel, which is harder than the rest of the tools. During the spindle turning process, you will undoubtedly experience dings and nicks in the tool rest, and these will cause flaws in your finished pieces. You can use a mill file to ensure your tool rest remains smooth at all times. You might even opt to wax the tool rest with canning wax, which can maintain your tool rest’s smoothness.

Tip # 6 – Always Check the Speed of the Lathe

You must form a habit of always checking the speed of the lathe before powering it up. You can easily check the step pulleys by visual examination to ensure they’re in proper condition. Depending on the type of lathe you’re using, you might need to power it on to check the speed before mounting the spindle. Be sure to refer to the manual when it comes to the proper speeds for specific tasks.

Tip # 7 – Cutting Should Occur in a Downhill Manner

While turning spindles, it’s important to cut downhill, always ensuring that you’re working from a large diameter to a small one. Failing to follow this tip will almost always result in pieces being processed with a number of errors. So, instead of wasting wood, be sure to follow this tip every time you turn spindles.

Tip # 8 – Don’t Rush

Regardless of any deadlines that you may have, it’s always a good idea to take your time when spindle turning. Rushing can cause you to make unnecessary mistakes that could end in disaster, depending on the situation.

Tip # 9 – Always Use Paper Towels When Applying Finish

Once you reach the finishing stage, it’s important that you use paper towels to apply the finish rather than cloth rags. Using cloth rags can cause accidents, which could even lead to the loss of a finger in the worst-case scenario. This is something you definitely want to avoid.

Tip # 10 – Practice Safety When Taking Measurements

You will inevitably need to take measurements during the spindle-turning process, but there’s a safe way to do so. By attempting to take measurements while the machine is in operation, you face the chance of the vernier scales or spring calipers becoming caught on the workpiece. This can result in the piece becoming snatched from your hands, which could cause injury. It’s best to stop the machine before taking measurements. If you must take the measurements while the machine is running, be sure to round over the tips of your measuring tool before using them on the spinning stock.

Tip # 11 – Use Your Finger for Extra Tool Rest Support

If you ever need extra support while spindle turning, you can easily wrap your index finger around the tool rest, which will provide the support you need.

Hopefully, these tips and tricks will help you perfect your spindle turning skill, enabling you to take your woodworking to the next level. If you require more instruction before you can implement any of these tips or tricks, a variety of videos are available online. Simply perform an internet search, which should yield many free options. With a great deal of patience, practice, and instruction, you can perfect your spindle-turning skills so that each project you complete comes out without any flaws whatsoever.

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